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Cited by 42Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchEpigenetics and DNA MethylationStress Responses and Cortisol

Epigenetics of traumatic stress: The association of NR3C1 methylation and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom changes in response to narrative exposure therapy

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Wilker, Sarah, Vukojevic, Vanja, Schneider, Anna, Pfeiffer, Anett, Inerle, Stefan, Pauly, Markus, Elbert, Thomas, Papassotiropoulos, Andreas +2 more·2023·Translational Psychiatry
DOI 10.1038/s41398-023-02316-6PMC PMC9852425
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Abstract

Epigenetic processes allow plasticity in gene regulation in response to significant environmental events. Accumulating evidence suggests that effective psychotherapy is accompanied by epigenetic changes, rendering DNA methylation a potential biomarker of therapy success. Due to the central role of glucocorticoid dynamics in stress regulation and the alteration of aversive memories, glucocorticoid receptors are likely involved in the molecular processes that are required to successfully treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between methylation at the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and PTSD treatment success of evidence-based psychotherapy. A sample of N = 153 conflict survivors from Northern Uganda (98 females and 55 males) with PTSD were treated with Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). Diagnostic interviews and saliva sampling took place at pretreatment and 4 and 10 months after treatment completion. We investigated potential associations between PTSD symptom development and methylation changes at 38 CpG sites spanning NR3C1 over the three times of measurement using the repeated measures correlation. After accounting for multiple comparisons, DNA methylation at CpG site cg25535999 remained negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. These results were followed up by mixed models as well as structural equation modelling. These analyses revealed that treatment responders had a significant cg25535999 methylation increase after treatment with NET. Furthermore, lower methylation at cg25535999 pretreatment predicted a higher symptom improvement. Our results suggest different epigenetic profile dynamics at NR3C1 cg25535999 in therapy responders compared to non-responders and underscore the central role of glucocorticoid signaling in trauma-focused therapy.

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Authors
Wilker, S., Vukojevic, V., Schneider, A., Pfeiffer, A., Inerle, S., Pauly, M., Elbert, T., Papassotiropoulos, A., de Quervain, D., & Kolassa, I.-T.
Affiliations
  • Universität Ulm (DE)
  • TU Dortmund University (DE)
  • University of Konstanz (DE)
  • University of Basel (CH)
Corresponding author
Wilker, Sarah
ORCID
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-01-19
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
14-14
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41398-023-02316-6
PMC
PMC9852425
OpenAlex
W4317425948
Cited by
42
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 4
FWCI
12.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • KOPS (University of Konstanz) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld (Universität Bielefeld) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • funds of the University of Basel
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KO-3895-4)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
post-traumatic stress disorder, NR3C1, glucocorticoid receptor, DNA methylation, narrative exposure therapy, epigenetic biomarkers, treatment response, glucocorticoid signaling, trauma-focused psychotherapy, Northern Uganda, PTSD symptom change
MeSH terms
Female, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Implosive Therapy, Male, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic

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